Russia-China export volumes to rise 50% amid Western sanctions

DONGNING, September 29. /ITAR-TASS/. Export trade volumes at the China-Russia border town of Dongning will increase by 50% to 450,000 tons this year due to Western sanctions against Moscow over events in Ukraine, the head of the checkpoint on the border with Russia’s Far East, Qu Lufeng, said on Monday.

“Western sanctions have become one of the main reasons to increase exports from China,” he told Russian and Chinese journalists participating in a motor race under a banner proclaiming “Russian-Chinese border — border of peace and cooperation”.

“This year, Russia and China have launched a regime of mutual recognition of customs control results,” said Li Liming from the Chinese corporation Dili. “This will facilitate the passage of goods both from Russia and China,” he said.

“Given the situation in Ukraine, we expect to increase supplies by 33% to 112,000 tons,” he added, noting that his company sent 84,000 tons of vegetables and fruit to Russia last year.

The motor race by Russian and Chinese journalists has been organized as part of the Year of Youth Exchanges between the two countries. Its purpose is to strengthen cooperation between Russian and Chinese media and to familiarize news professionals and their audiences with economic priorities, cultural interests and traditions in border regions.

During the 10-day event, a group of three dozen journalists will visit five cities in China's north-eastern Heilongjiang province, bordering Russia.